ROLLING STONES & FLORENCE Live in London!

 On the second night of their two sold-out 50th anniversary gigs at London's O2 Arena, The Rolling Stones brought out Florence Welch of Florence & the Machine to perform "Gimme Shelter."

NAS on CONAN!

Nas hit up Conan last night with Anthony Hamilton to perform "World's An Addiction," off his latest and brilliant record, Life is Good!

WATCH FULL RADIOHEAD FAN-SHOT CONCERT

For two nights in September 2011, Radiohead played their only US gigs at New York City's Roseland Ballroom. We were at the first night, September 29 gig and it was a moment we will never forget, to see Radiohead in an environment like that was remarkable.

 Now, over a year later, a full concert using fan-shot footage and pro audio by the band has been released of September 29 gig. Take a look!

Quick News

Pussy Riot have been nominated for Time magazines People of the Year. A landmark achievement and moment of bliss for women who are imprisoned in Russia for a heinous reason.

Low are working with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy for their new album, which will arrive in 2013. Tweedy is producing the record.

After a new unknown rapper by the name of Captain Murphy emerged on a track featuring Earl Sweatshirt and Flying Lotus, it has been revealed that Murphy is Flying Lotus himself. He has released a free mixtape which you can download HERE.

Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females gave fans an update as to how she is doing after being diagnosed with mononucleosis at the end of the summer. She wrote on the band's blog and said, "Dear Friends, Here is a very brief run down of where I stand right now as far as my health is concerned. I am doing my very best to get back into tip-top shape as quickly as possible so that we can return to the touring circuit that I already miss so much. Even though I'm not in any shape to get back in the van, we've been writing some new songs and I feel confident that I will be ready to get back on the road sooner rather than later. Thank you for all of the get well wishes and for your patience! Also, please note that the following is a very cursory overview of what has been going on and I can assure you that a lot more has happened in the past month but it'd simply be too much for me to sketch right now!"

The Street Dogs have confirmed they will officially go on hiatus after their January gigs next year.

The Drums front man Jonny Pierce will release his debut solo album in 2013.

File Under - HOLY FUCKING SHIT - Nick Oliveri has rejoined Queens of the Stone Age! This news comes as Dave Grohl and Trent Reznor have confirmed they are working with the band on their new album. Oliveri was famously thrown out of the band in 2004 by QOTSA front man Josh Homme.  In 2010 we interviewed Oliveri about his time in QOTSA, read that interview HERE.

Alice Cooper on Conan

Watch the iconic Alice Cooper perform "Under My Wheels" & "I'll Bite Your Face Off" on Conan!

Palma Violets on Jools Holland!

 Watch our November Rising Artist - Palma Violets turn Later...With Jools Holland into a three-ring circus as they perform their current single, "Best of Friends."

Lana Del Rey on Jools Holland

 Watch Lana Del Rey perform "Ride" on Jools!

Also, this gets us thinking, if Lana and The Weeknd are on the same episode of Jools, wonder if they will talk a collaboration together????

The Weeknd on Jools Holland!

 Watch The Weeknd perform "Wicked Games" on Later...With Jools Holland.

Quick News

Andrew W.K. has released a official statement about his cancelled trip to Bahrain, he said, “I’m disappointed and puzzled by their change of heart and last minute decision. I was personally invited to take this trip by The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain over a year ago. They came to me. The first email they sent me is dated September 13th, 2011 asking me to give a motivational lecture in Bahrain. I was overjoyed and accepted their invitation immediately. We moved forward and completed their extensive approval process, background check, booked all the flights and travel, and had numerous phone calls with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Office in Manama, Bahrain, who were handling the details. I was scheduled to fly to Bahrain on Saturday, Dec. 1st, 2012. We received our official itinerary from the State Dept. at 5:58am, on Monday, November 26th, 2012. Less than six hours later, we received an urgent telephone call informing us that the entire trip had been canceled, due to some higher level controversy. We couldn’t get any more information or answers as to why this was suddenly canceled at the last minute. When I was originally invited by our contact, it seemed everyone was aware of what I stand for with my positive attitude. They were aware of how I look and my high-energy rock music. They were excited to bring my message of living life to the fullest to the people in the Middle East. I was thrilled at the opportunity to represent my country and the spirit of inclusive and open-minded freedom that makes our nation so special and inspiring. So, for a Department of State representative to say Andrew W.K. ‘doesn’t meet their standards’ after they invited me and planned my trip for a year… well, that doesn’t meet my standards either. You can’t judge a book by its cover. I would’ve done a great job and represented our nation with dignity and pride. Despite all these challenges, I still would love to go and I vow to continue partying, and working everyday to to unite our human race through the power of positive partying.”

Deerhunter/Atlas Sound frontman Bradford Cox will make his major screen acting debut starring as Jared Leto's lover in Dallas Buyers Club. The film, which also stars Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner, takes place in 1986 and is about a man (McConaughey) who experimented with non-FDA-approved drugs after being diagnosed with AIDS and given only a few months to live. No word as to when the film will be released.

Palma Violets are set to release their yet-to-be titled debut album on February 25 via Rough Trade.

While today would have been Jimi Hendrix's 70th birthday, the tracklisting of an album of never-before-released material was announced. The record, People, Hell, & Angels, will arrive on March 25, take a look at the tracklisting below:
'Earth Blues'
'Somewhere'
'Hear My Train A Comin''
'Bleeding Heart'
'Let Me Move You'
'Izabella'
'Easy Blues'
'Crash Landing'
'Inside Out'
'Hey Gypsy Boy'
'Mojo Man'
'Villanova Junction Blues'

While recovering from a successful vocal chord surgery, Bjork has announced she will be taking her Biophilia live shows to Paris for a residency in February and March of 2013 at a new venue Le Cirque En Chantier, which will be a specially constructed circus tent on L'Ile Seguin, an island on the Seine in the French capital.  

The Dillinger Escape Plan will release a new record in 2013. To get fans excited they cut a teaser video, take a look:

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds Cover & Tracklisting

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds will release their 15th studio album, Push Away The Sky (Editor's note: Amazing title of a record), on February 18th in the UK and Europe and the following day for the rest of the world. Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting, as well as the album trailer below:

1. We No Who U R
2. Wide Lovely Eyes
3. Water's Edge
4. Jubilee Street
5. Mermaids
6. We Real Cool
7. Finishing Jubilee Street
8. Higgs Boson Blues
9. Push The Sky Away

Soundgarden on Kimmel!

Watch Soundgarden perform "By Crooked Steps," one of the tracks off their latest, King Animal, which is one of our Honorable Album Mentions of 2012, on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Wild Belle on Conan

Wild Belle who will release their debut, Isles on March 12th, 2013 on Columbia Records, made their TV debut Monday night on Conan. Take a look at the duo performing "It's Too Late."

Quick News

After posting on his site, Andrew W.K. said he was named Cultural Ambassador to Middle East for United States, stating, "The US Department of State in partnership with the US Embassy in Manama, Bahrain, has invited Andrew to visit the Middle East to promote partying and positive power. Andrew will begin his journey sometime in December, 2012 and will visit elementary schools, the University of Bahrain, music venues, and more, all while promoting partying and world peace.” Now, the State Department has cancelled Andrew's trip to Bahrain, and disavows naming him a cultural ambassador. Andrew took to Twitter and said, "They can cancel our party in the Middle East, but they can never cancel the party in our hearts. #StayPositiveStayParty"

Beyonce will direct her own autobiographical documentary. The film will air on HBO in February.

Speaking to Q magazine, Jarvis Cocker has stated the future on Pulp and confirmed that "There won't be any more new music." Cocker was then asked about the future of the Britpop legends and he said, "We haven't got anything planned after the New Year… we'll just be cruising off into the sunset. Seems poetic. Not wishing to make a big deal, but we've played for a while and it's been really good, but you can't keep doing that forever. Will you see Pulp again? Who knows. I'm not stoking those particular rumours."

Rapper Murs is currently writing a book about his time rhyming with 9th Wonder. The duo, who released a slew of albums together, released their final record together earlier this month.

After announcing that their new album would be titled, Whoever Shouts The Loudest, Glasvegas have confirmed that they changed the name to their forthcoming record to Later...When The TV Turns To Static. The album is set to be released next year.

Sidelined Deftones bassist Chi Cheng, who has been in a coma since 2008 after being involved in a horrific car accident, his brother, Ming Cheng spoke to Revolver magazine and gave an update. Ming said, "Once his health gets a little better, we'll start looking into other options... but they don't even do it [stem cell therapy] in the US yet. It's a miracle he's still with us. He's alive and kicking and he's fighting, and I think there's a reason for it. I'm hoping there's a light at the end of the tunnel for Chi."

WU LYF singer Ellery James Roberts has confirmed their exit from the popular indie band. However, after various cryptic messages via YouTube from Roberts over the weekend, the band have confirmed they are continuing on without him.

EXCLUSIVE! Remember Remember INTV!

While instrumental bands like Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, Godspeed! You Black Emperor shine at festivals and sell out massive venues around the globe, it is no surprise that more bands like such are coming about. Scotland's Remember Remember is one of the new class of instrumental outfits that is making a name for themselves across Europe. The band, which is the brainchild of Greame Roland started off as a solo endeavor, but as the popularity in his sound grew, he had to add more pieces to his musical puzzle and now, Remember Remember has become a full band incorporating woodwinds, strings, and a strong rock sound. We spoke to Roland about the Scotland music scene, his music and what the future holds for Remember Remember. Take a look at that interview below:

Scotland seems to be having a musical boom with bands such as yourself, Mogwai, Glasvegas, Franz Ferdinand, We Were Promised Jet Packs and others, is Scotland the new place for bands to break out?

I don't know if I would say it was the new place for bands, even within that list of bands you mentioned there is a time-span of about ten years.  Before that we had Teenage Fanclub, The Jesus and Marychain, The Vaselines, Orange Juice, and more.  For whatever reason, there just seems to be a lot of people in Scotland who like making music.  I suppose you could trace it back historically, and look to Scotland's long tradition of folk music, on the other hand, maybe it's as simple as the fact that a lot of folk up here would do anything to avoid getting a normal job.

Being an instrumental band from Scotland, the comparisons to Mogwai are straight away. How frustrating does it get to constantly be compared to them? How would you describe how you are different?

The comparisons are inevitable, considering not only that we are both instrumental bands from Scotland, but furthermore we are signed to their label.  However, Mogwai themselves state that they would not sign a band that sounds like them, and a lot of bands do.  Their influence is considerable, but I think what sets us apart from other bands who, like me, obviously hold Mogwai in high regard, is that I actually go out of my way to not sound like them.  As flattering as imitation can be, I would much rather gain the respect of my label bosses by making music that is unique to myself and my band.  I think it's important to be aware of the vast breadth of variety that there is to be found in instrumental music.  Mogwai is instrumental music but so is Aphex Twin as is Debussy. To attempt to lump together every musician who chooses not to sing as a single genre is kind of crazy.  Getting back on point though, as to how our music differs from Mogwai, their music can be very fierce and ferocious whereas I don't even use a distortion pedal. If they are Darth Vader then we are Princess Leia.

Starting off just basically as just you, now the band has seven members. Was there a massive audition process to figure out who would best fit the sound and ethos of Remember Remember?

I don't think I could ever audition somebody with a straight face on.  It wasn't like I was plucking the best and brightest from the cities young hopefuls! Everyone in the band is a friend that I asked to play with me because I'd either seen them play with other groups and liked what they did, or we had met and become friends and found ourselves to have similar attitudes towards music.  Tommy, who plays analogue synthesisers with us was our driver for a year before he joined.  I loved the band that he used to be in and I knew he had a great collection of vintage equipment, but for some reason it didn't occur to me for ages that he might actually want to play with us too, which is ridiculous as having him in the band has really cemented things. We used to have a violinist, Joan, who played on the first album but left to pursue other projects.  When putting together the string quartet for this album she was my first choice for violinist so it was nice to have her part of this record too.  I like the idea that people are only in this band if they want to be, there not tied down to it and if they decide to leave there always welcome back in some way.

Did the band’s name come from the famous Guy Fawkes poem?

"Remember Remember the 5th of November"? In a way it does.  I was born on the 5th of November, Guy Fawkes night or Bonfire Night, as it's known in the UK.  It's the day of the year that we "celebrate" the unravelling of Fawkes's plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, by setting off fireworks and having bonfires.  It meant I was guaranteed a fireworks display every year on my birthday.  For that reason, I've always had the name Remember Remember in mind as a name for the music I was making, even before this band started.  It's appropriate to our music as well, the heavy use of loops, delays and repetition. Interestingly enough, Ike Turner, Art Garfunkel, Jonny Greenwood and both Brian and Ryan Adams were all also born on this date. They are all invited to join.

You released your new album, The Quickening last year. How does it feel to release the follow-up to your self -titled?

It feels great!  Without trying to sound trite I'm just really happy and grateful that there are people prepared to release my music.  I think it's probably true with most bands that towards the end of making one record, you're already thinking about what the next one is going to be like so it's a great feeling to know that you are going to be able to make it happen.  So far, people seem to be reacting well to the record too, which is encouraging.

What did you do different with The Quickening that you did from your first record?

On the first record, there were only 3 members in the band, plus a couple of guests.  Without a drummer, we had to find alternative methods for creating rhythms. When I started playing live as Remember Remember 6 years ago, it was just me on my own.  I didn't want to use any pre-recorded sounds or electronic percussion so I started looking for everyday things that I could use as "drums".  These early songs featured drum beats made from scissors, sell-o-tape, lighters, matches, mobile phone chirps, wind up toys, all kinds of stuff.  This became, I suppose, kind of a signature technique and the bulk of the songs on the first album used this approach.  In part, I didn't want to become known or thought of as gimmicky, or "that guy that plays the stapler", so I didn't repeat this method on this album.  In order to convincingly play these songs live a large group of musicians is required.  The band that play on The Quickening is the same 7 piece band that have been playing for the last two years.  We are Remember Remember now, as opposed to just me plus guests.  This album is a reflection of the sound of the full band, the way we sound when we play live.  I suppose you could say it's a more conventional approach but I really wanted to try for a sound that was, for lack of a better word, timeless, and not framed in a certain era due to the use of production techniques characteristic to "now".

What does the title, The Quickening signify?

I wanted a title that sounded mystical, but not without a sense of humour.  I learned this year about James McPherson, who translated the Ossian epic from ancient Scots Gaelic.  There was, and still is, great controversy over whether there ever truly was an ancient Scottish Epic Poem, or whether McPherson simply made it all up. There is something beautifully Scottish about that, whether it's true or just a great wee story it doesn't really matter.  The duality.  So I started thinking, wouldn't it be great to portray this music as some ancient, Scottish magic-music, but not to root it in established Celtic myth but to just make something up. Then it occurred to me that there already was a contemporary example of a completely made-up, ridiculous Scottish mystical cosmology; the Highlander movies.  The second in the series is called Highlander 2: The Quickening hence our second album title.

The sound of the band is very cinematic, would you ever consider doing film scores?

Perhaps a remake of the original Highlander?  Starring Adrian Brodie and Ewan MacGregor (playing a spaniard).  Maybe not.  In honesty, writing a film score is one of my top ambitions. Some songs of ours have been used in bits and pieces here and there, but purpose writing a score is a completely different art-form.  When making a record, you are free to just go wherever the music takes you, everything that happens, happens within the music. It's a self contained world.  However, when writing a score, you have a responsibility to best serve someone else's creative work.  The music has to complement, enhance and, crucially, not ruin the film.  It's a remarkable thing how much the tone of the music can affect the tone of the action on screen, and the emotional state of the viewer.  

2012 The Albums - Honorable Mentions

This has become a Thanksgiving tradition of sorts for us, beginning the year end music lists of what the calendar served up to the public as the best records of the year. Here is the first list, our HONORABLE MENTIONS category, a handful of records that did not crack our Top 10 but worthy of note. Next week we will bring our coveted, LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN award. Stay tuned for that but in the meantime, here are 2012's Honorable Album Mentions. As always it is broken up into a quick list and then with explanations.

2012 Honorable Mentions (In No Particular Order)

- Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
- Ceremony - Zoo
- Soundgarden - King Animal
- Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball
- Tribes - Baby
- Hot Chip - In Our Heads

Now, with explanations:

Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
Not since the heyday of gangsta rap has an emcee come out and give a lyrical "Fuck you" to politicians and the system. Produced by the genius El-P, Killer Mike's R.A.P. Music is a verbal document of our uncertain times and comes out swinging like prizefighter. If you are a fan of 90's hip-hop (of the Golden Era as we call it), this is a record and artist for you.
Key Tracks: Reagan, Go!

Ceremony - Zoo
The California hardcore heroes traded their abrasive sound for something slightly more refined - a post-punk / thrash sound that mixes influences that ranged from Fugazi to Joy Division. Zoo, while still abrasive, is light in comparison to the bands other releases, however, is simply the best material Ceremony have released. Taking a much more mature and dignified step into a new direction and succeeding with flying colors.
Key Tracks: Hysteria, Repeating the Circle 

Soundgarden - King Animal
There is the old phrase, "You Don't Know What You Got Until It Is Gone," and it rings true for fans of Soundgarden. Nearly two decades since their last release, 1996's Down on the Upside, Soundgarden roar back with King Animal. A record of heavy guitar licks, pounding drums, thick basslines and most of all, Chris Cornell's glorious voice as it is meant to be heard. King Animal takes life in the Seattle Grunge icons past, pecking away at various releases and moments from the bands earlier releases from their Sub Pop days all the way to their major label records and find a way to look forward.
Key Tracks: Been Away Too Long, Rowing

Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball
It was an election year, so if anyone was surprised that a new Bruce record was released, well, you don't know the Boss. On the first record since the passing of Clarence Clemons on sax, Bruce and E-Street return to give their take on the state of our Union and bring along the legendary Tom Morello for some of the ride. A furious, and lively record, Wrecking Ball plows through the nonsense and gets down to brass tacks.
Key Tracks: We Take Care Of Our Own, Death To My Hometown

Tribes - Baby
In 2012 the legends of Britpop made their mark again - The Stone Roses returned to the stage, Blur broke up - then got back together again, Pulp finally came back to America and Suede said they were recording again. While those that launched the genre are enjoying a comeback of sorts, they also made the world realize how important Britpop was, thanks to a new wave of bands inspired by the 90's anthems. One of those bands were London's Tribes. On their delightfully catchy and colorful debut, Baby, Tribes take the best of Britpop and make it their own.
Key Tracks: We Were Children, Corner Of An English Field   

Hot Chip - In Our Heads
While EDM took over the year, the London electronic rockers showed that in a post-LCD Soundsystem world, you can still rock without pushing some buttons. With In Our Heads, Hot Chip returned to form and created stadium style dance anthems that New Order would envy and tossed in enough energy that Andrew W.K. would even get exhausted.
Key Tracks: Don't Deny Your Heart, Let Me Be Him

Live Review - Of Monsters & Men @ Terminal 5

Of Monsters & Men Live at Terminal 5
By Colum Ward 

It’s hard not to like Of Monsters and Men. They’ve got to be the nicest bunch of folks ever to grace a stage. There’s not a hint of anger or sadness. There’s no posing or posturing or silly rambling banter – just seven individuals playing their hearts out.

My personal favorite is Arnar the Drummer. We got to see a whole lot of Arnar. He was right up front, stage left – facing the leads. It’s an inspired place to put a drummer – you can watch his every move. Arnar however played the drums only about half the time. He sang back-up, he played the accordion and he jumped back and forth across the stage aggressively urging the audience to clap along to every song. I’m sorry but it’s just not fun to have ones hands in the air for an entire concert. 2 songs is my limit, maybe 3. Simmer down Arnar!

I do need to pause here for a moment to mention the lack of a uniform look among the band members. There is no dress code. It’s ‘wear what you like’. The result is a jarring mess of styles. It’s librarian chic meets country hippie meets dapper gent. A neat line of different shapes and sizes, textures and tones. Kind of like an un-coordinated but more infinitely more organized Arcade Fire.

But when it comes to what’s most important – the music – everyone is on the same page. OMAM’s best songs – those soaring foot-stomping anthems – play really well in a medium sized venue like T5. They’re real crowd pleasers; full of shouts and cheers, that are a pleasure to sing along with. And this was one enthusiastic audience; young, mostly female. The first few bars of any given track were greeted by squeals of delight and these kids knew every lyric – which is quite a feat because Nanna (that enchanting voice that makes OMAM’s sound so unique, so special) sings with a strong Icelandic accent – which is lovely but totally incomprehensible.

The one abiding truth though that you will come away with from an OMAM concert is a new appreciation for the sound of a Trumpet. Just when you think it can’t get any better – the guitars are raging – the drums are pounding – it’s building and building and then in comes the Trumpet (played on this tour by guest Trumpeter Ragnhildur Gunnarsdottir) and the song it transformed. A Trumpet demands attention – it puts order on the chaotic din of guitar & drum. It’s a terrifically hopeful, inspiring sound. And you stand there thinking; ‘Gosh wouldn’t everyday life be so much better if, when you needed it, you could just summon a Trumpet blast.’ Forget the cowbell – more Trumpet I say. More Trumpet!!

Quick News

Fans of Coldplay are going to have to wait a long time for new material as the band confirmed at a gig in Australia that they are taking a three year break from each other at the end of their current world tour.

Noel Gallagher is stepping in for Rodger Daltrey and will curate the 2013 Teenage Cancer Trust concerts in London for 2013.

The Rolling Stones have confirmed that original bassist, Bill Wyman and guitarist Mick Taylor will join the band at their London 50th anniversary concerts next month.

After telling Billboard magazine that Rage Against the Machine have "no plans" to record new material, guitarist Tom Morello elaborated to NME. Morello said, "When bands make albums it's because everybody wants to, and that's not the case with Rage Against The Machine at the moment. Everyone in the band gets along very well, we consider each other friends and comrades in arms, but people sometimes don't feel ready to do it. I don't have one minute of one day that's not filled with music, or politics, or family. If at some point Rage were to get it together to work more I would be open to that, but that's not on the table right now."

A film about late INXS front man Michael Hutchence is being produced by his mother and sister, the film entitled Two Worlds Colliding. No release date has been set.

After undergoing a successful vocal chord surgery to eliminate nodules on her vocal chords, Bjork took to her website and said, "A few years ago doctors found a vocal polyp on me chords. I decided to go the natural way and for four years did stretches and tackled it with different foods and what not. Then they discovered better technology and i got tempted into hi-tech laser stuff and I have to say, in my case anyway: surgery rocks! I stayed quiet for three weeks and then started singing and definitely feel like my chords are as good as pre nodule! It's been very satisfying to sing all them clear notes again. I'm sorry I had to cancel stuff earlier in the year, didn't want to talk about this until I knew for sure if it would work. So looking forward to singing for you in 2013 all the warmth."

Green Day will release a documentary called Quatro! in 2013. The film will chronicle the making of their 2012 triology of records - Uno! Dos! Tre!

The Cribs are set to release a retrospective record called Payola in February.

The Klaxons are currently in the studio making their long awaited third record and Jamie Reynolds told Zane Lowe on his BBC radio show, "We’ve worked with loads of different people, but it’s been a learning process I think," he said. "We have learned to make electronic music with computers, that’s been our mission over the last however long... [it's] been about a year’s worth of learning electronics and computers, which is something that we didn’t know anything about. I wouldn’t know how to have made an electronic drumbeat until this time last year."

After leaving Velvet Revolver in 2008, Scott Weiland says he is now open for a reunion with his former bandmates that include ex-Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagen, Matt Sorum. Weiland told Rolling Stone, "I am completely open to it and I know there are other guys in the band that are completely open to it. There have been some things that have stood in the way that aren't anything that have to do with the band – just other players, agents."

A rare 1980 Joy Division concert has been made available via engineer Drew Crumbaugh's blog. Download it HERE.

Beck is currently working on a new record which he hopes to have out next year.

Various news outlets are reporting that jailed Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina has been moved to a single cell. "Some tensions arose in relationships and, apparently to prevent this situation from escalating, she decided to submit a request to the prison leadership and they moved her to a one-person cell," a prison service spokeswoman said to Reuters.

After undergoing surgery Jane's Addiction front man Perry Farrell has struck a vein, in writing terms, and has written nearly 60 new Jane's songs while confined to a bed recovering. Farrell told Rolling Stone, "I haven't written this much or been this prolific since I started when I was in my 20s," says the 53-year-old. "It's been coming out fantastic. I'm super excited. Everything will really start to jell and come together probably this time next year."

Big Boi is set to release Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors next month. Take a look at the tracklisting for the Outkast members sophomore solo album.
1. Ascending
2. The Thickets feat. Sleepy Brown
3. Apple Of My Eye
4. Objectum Sexuality feat. Phantogram
5. In The A feat. T.I. & Ludacris
6. She Hates Me feat. KiD CuDi
7. CPU feat. Phantogram
8. Thom Pettie feat. Little Dragon & Killer Mike
9. Mama Told Me feat. Kelly Rowland
10. Lines feat. A$AP Rocky & Phantogram
11. Shoes For Running feat. B.o.B. & Wavves
12. Raspberries feat. Mouche & Scar
13. Tremendous Damage feat. Bosko
14. Descending feat. Little Dragon

Alicia Keys on Fallon

 Watch the always amazing Alicia Keys perform her latest smash single, "Girl on Fire," on Fallon!

Gary Clark Jr. On Letterman

 Watch Gary Clark Jr. perform "Numb" on Thanksgiving Eve on Letterman.

Tegan & Sara on Letterman

Watch Tegan and Sara rip through their new single, "Closer" on Letterman!

Quick News

It has been confirmed that Yeah Yeah Yeah's will release a new album in Spring 2013.

Lenny Kravitz is set to play Marvin Gaye in a biopic directed by Julian Temple (The Great Rock and Roll Swindle, Glastonbury). The film will chronicle the final years of Gaye's life.

Speaking to XFM, Johnny Marr reveled why he changed his name from Johnny Maher (like Bill Maher the political comedian) to the Marr we all know. He said,"The original spelling of my name was Maher. In school I was always called Ma-her and May-her, going to the doctors or whatever. So I just thought I'd make it easier for everybody when I was 14 or something. And also the drummer from the Buzzcocks is called Maher, so I didn't want to be confused with him. I was probably quite confident that I was going to make it in the music industry!"

Could R. Kelly's cult classic Trapped in the Closet (Which is also getting more chapters this weekend on IFC) come to Broadway? According to Kelly at the new Trapped in the Closet's chapters premiere he mentioned that he has offers to bring the twisted musical to Broadway and may even star in some performances.

Speaking of Broadway, a re-imagining of Romeo and Juliet called The Last Goodbye will be featured around the music of late musician Jeff Buckley. The musical, which takes its name from a Buckley tune, is set to open in 2013.

Tame Impala on Jools Holland

 Watch Tame Impala perform "Elephant" on Later...with Jools Holland!

Playlist

It is that time again! Check out our 26 song playlist for November and stream it on Spotify!

Biffy Clyro on Jools Holland

 Watch the mighty Biffy Clyro perform "Stingin' Belle" on Later..with Jools Holland.

Aimee Mann on Kimmel!

Watch the always amazing Aimee Mann perform "Labrador" and then "Living a Lie," with very special guest James Mercer of The Shins on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

EXCLUSIVE! We Cut Corners INTV!

Since the success of The White Stripes showing off what two people in a band can do, bands like The Black Keys, Blood Red Shoes, Cairo Knife Fight, JEFF The Brotherhood have all proven that two people can pack a serious punch. Ireland's We Cut Corners are no exception, they fall into the power duo category and in fact, began turning heads immediately, thanks in part to their 2011 debut, Today I Realized I Can Go Home Backwards, which was nominated for Choice Music Prize - Irish Album of the Year. While spending a majority of 2012 on the road, we spoke to the duo, guitarist John Duignan and drummer / vocalist Conall O'Breachain about coming from Ireland, their music and their raw power.

Coming from Ireland with a deep musical legacy thanks to U2, Bob Geldof, Bell X1 The Frames, Damian Rice and others, do you feel any pressure to live up to those bands or are you unfazed by it?  

Not at all. While Ireland's musical heritage is undoubtedly a very rich one, we're not trying to match or outdo anyone else's achievements.  We just try to write the best songs we can regardless of what has gone on, or what is going on around us. 

Hailing from Ireland, has the country’s recent shift in economics played a role or influence in your music? 

The economic situation pervades so many aspects of life in Ireland that music serves as welcome respite.

Are you influenced by where you come from?

 Ireland is a country with a singularly contradictory national psyche and, while we are not necessarily conscious of this when we are writing, it is undoubtedly echoed in some of of our songs.

How did the band come together? 

We met in an Early Education lecture, became friends and started writing songs which we've been doing ever since.

Who are some of your influences? 

We're devotees of the lyrical nous and musical ingenuity of Ryan Adams and, while we love acts like Titus Andronicus, Fionn Regan, St. Vincent, Pavement and The Walkmen, he remains our most enduring influence.

The band is very basic, just drums, guitar and vocals – like White Stripes and Black Keys. This trend seems to be ongoing in indie rock, do you find it to be a trend?

Not as such. For us, it's borne purely out of circumstance...as no doubt is the case with other 2-pieces!

How would you describe your style and sound to someone who has never heard of you before? 

Short songs on drums and guitar.

What was it like making your debut?

It was a really fun time. We recorded the album with Jimmy Eadie in Dublin, Ireland who, we feel, brought out the best in us. We spent a week tracking the album and a winter mixing it. 

You titled your debut, “Today I Realized I Could Go Home Backwards,” what does the title signify?

 The title alludes to making sense out of the mistakes taken in ones personal life.

There has been much buzz around the band, how are you responding to it?  

We've been very much unaware of anything of the sort up to now!

Given the name of the band, do you find you try and do everything easily? 

On the contrary, it's meant to be mildly self-mocking of how long it takes us to do everything.

Six Year Anniversary

It is hard to imagine that it has been six years since the very first post went up on this website. Recently, while Hurricane Sandy pounded the East Coast we realized how lucky we are to be from this area. This site was born in a Long Island basement, then moved to Brooklyn and now, we call Queens home, we are proud to be from here and we are not going anywhere! 

From the countless interviews and concerts we have covered, this train keeps rolling and we have you to thank for it. Thanks for reading, experiencing and looking at our words and thoughts. To all the artists, managers, labels, agents, publicists (There are too many of you to list), thanks for everything and all the help along the way.

To continue our celebration, here is what some of our favorites have said about us.

“One of the most fun-loving and forward-thinking blogs in the world, and run by one of the nicest guys in the business. Thank you Sal and Officially a Yuppie for getting in there so early with your support. Hopefully see you again real soon." Love from Chapel Club

"Best thing I've seen on the internet since the panda that sneezes.” - Matthew Whitehouse, The Heartbreaks

"Sal and his peeps at OfficiallyAYuppie.com are doing an amazing job of covering fresh, creative music and the entire NYC scene! They're not too hip for the room, but definitely have hip taste." - Doug Wimbish, Living Colour

“I read www.officiallyayuppie.com every week. Sal has his finger on the pulse of both commercial and independent music and entertainment. His blog has something for everyone and his interviews are always insightful. Plus, Sal's a great dude!” – Elliot Jacobson

“Thanks for these great questions” – Mary Foresberg Weiland

“So, does this make me a Yuppie now?!” – Mickey Leigh, Joey Ramone’s brother

“Thank you for the interview. I really appreciate the interest in my project. Be well” –Ben Kenney of Incubus

“It was good speaking with you. All the best.” Ian Mackaye

“No Crap Questions” – Rab Allen, Glasvegas

"Officially a yuppie! Thanks a great name for a site!" - Andrew W.K.

"Thank you for taking time out to speak with me and caring about us and what we do," - Anthony Green, Circa Survive

"It was a pleasure," - Peter Hook, Joy Division / New Order

Glasvegas Unplugged

Watch Glasvegas perform their hit "Geraldine" unplugged for BBC’s Children In Need Special.

Quick News

It has been confirmed that Dave Grohl will follow in the footsteps of Bruce Springsteen and deliver 2013's Keynote address at SXSW in Austin, Texas, in March.

Former Thursday singer, Geoff Rickley has released his solo debut for free online. Rickley, released Mixtape 1 via Bandcamp, the album was recorded at his home during Hurricane Sandy. You can download the album HERE.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have confirmed via Twitter their new album will be released in March.

New Jersey's The Gaslight Anthem and El Jefe Design's have created a poster to benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy, it contains a lyric from the band's song "The Backseat," which says, "If You Never Let Me Go, I Will Never Let You Down." 100% of proceeds of the limited print will go to charity, the poster has now been sold-out. Take a look at the poster below:

Tegan & Sara Cover & Tracklisting

On January 29, indie rock's favorite sisters, Tegan and Sara, will release their new album Heartthrob. Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting below:

1) Closer
2) Goodbye, Goodbye
3) I Was A Fool
4) I'm Not Your Hero
5) Drove Me Wild
6) How Come You Don't Want Me
7) I Couldn't Be Your Friend
8) Love They Say
9) Now I'm All Messed Up
10) Shock To Your System

Divine Fits on Letterman

 Watch Divine Fits perform "Baby Get Worse" on Letterman!

JEFF The Brotherhood on Conan

Watch JEFF The Brotherhood perform "Staring at the Walls" on Conan!

Quick News

After years of rumors and playing with fans attention, Tom Morello has squashed the rumors that Rage Against the Machine are working on new material. Speaking to Billboard magazine, Morello confirmed that the band have "No plans beyond" the reissue of their landmark debut record.

Dave Matthews Band will donate $1million to Hurricane Sandy victims and help restore some of the damage done by the massive Frankenstorm that slammed the East Coast at the end of October. The band will play a benefit concert at New Jersey's Izod Center where all proceeds from merchandise and ticket sales will go to Sandy relief.

Mumford and Sons have confirmed they are working on new songs. Member Winston Marshall told NME, "We've started working on new songs, got a rehearsal studio – we're going to do that more often – got a few new tunes out of it. It was great, sounds really cool. They're bones [of songs] but really exciting bones. Sturdy bones."

The director behind The Rolling Stones documentary, Crossfire Hurricane, Brett Morgan, has confirmed he is working with Courtney Love on a new Kurt Cobain documentary. Morgan told The New York Post, ""Kurt was not only an amazing songwriter and musician, he was an incredible artist and filmmaker. So we are going to do the movie sort of like a third-person autobiography – [as] if Kurt was around and making a film about his life."

Manic Street Preachers have confirmed they are working on a new album. Singer James Dean Bradfield told Bang Showbiz, "I'm trying to find a good word for the next record. I'm not going to say esoteric because no-one wants to hear that word, it's not even eclectic."

VINTAGE CLIP! RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE in 1993

On November 27, Rage Against The Machine will release the 20th anniversary of their landmark debut album. Inside one of the many versions of the anniversary edition, it will feature old and rare performances through the bands career.

Here is one that they released of a 1993 performance at Chicago's Vic Theater of them performing "Take the Power Back."

QUICK SPINS

Deftones – Koi No Yokan

This review of Deftones new album could be summed up in one word – “Wow.” Koi No Yokan, which translates from Japanese to “the sense upon first meeting a person that the two of you are going to fall into love,” clings to its meaning. After its first listen, Koi No Yokan is without a doubt one of the best albums of this year and one of the best records of the Sacramento, California post-hardcore legends career. As we mentioned when the band returned in 2009 with the phenomenal Diamond Eyes, a record about bassist Chi Cheng, who has been in a coma since 2008 following a devastating car accident, the band have taken their tragedy and channeled it into some of the greatest music and sounds of their career. This album continues that path and as we all hope and pray for Cheng to recover, the Deftones will continue their musical path of destruction in the absense of their brothers wake.

FINAL GRADE: A+

Action Bronson – Rare Chandeliers

The best rapper to emerge in years comes back with his second mixtape of 2012. Queens’ Action Bronson follows up his collaboration with Party Supplies with The Alchemist for Rare Chandeliers. Rapping about everything from food to girls to weed, Action Bronson is serious about making a name for himself in hip-hop but dishes on having so much fun while doing it.

FINAL GRADE: A+

Crystal Castles – III

The third and much anticipated new record from the British neo-cold wave band is much of the dark and electronic blips and noise we have come to love from them over the years.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Bat For Lashes – The Haunted Man

After hitting a patch of writers block after her breakthrough 2009 release, Two Suns, Natasha Khan aka Bat for Lashes contacted Thom Yorke for advice and it seemed to work. The Haunted Man is a record that is not only far superior than her debut but hears her broadening and experimenting with new sounds and styles in sophisticated and clever fashion.

FINAL GRADE: B+

How to Destroy Angels – An Omen EP

The second EP from Trent Reznors other band which features his wife and collaborators Atticus Ross and Rob Sheridan gives fans a dynamic taste of what is to come from their much anticipated LP in 2013. 

FINAL GRADE: B+

Rolo Tomassi – Astraea

The third release and first self-released record of Britain’s mathcore titans is as brutal, fierce and fucking scary as one would imagine. Rolo Tomassi are a band that do not manage to get the proper attention Stateside as they deserve, we hope with Astraea they finally will.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Pig Destroyer – Book Burner

The Virginia grindcore / metal band return with one of the finest albums of their career and also one of the most pulse pounding. Book Burner is one of 2012’s heaviest albums and one of the years best heavy records at that.

FINAL GRADE: B+

Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Psychedelic Pill

The second release of Young and Horse this year and much like its predecessor, Americana, it makes us smile that these two legendary acts are working together again. While Americana was a much more straightforward record for them, Psychedelic Pill, like its title, is far diverse, it is a jam-rock record of massive proportions.

FINAL GRADE: B

Of Montreal – Paralyitic Stalks

The 11^th album from Athens, Georgia, psychedelic art rockers is a typical Of Montreal record. Nothing much different to the bands twisted formula, but at this point in their career, there really is no need to.

FINAL GRADE: B

Donald Fagan – Sunken Condos

The fourth solo record from one half of Steely Dan is a lush, layered and lighter record than Fagan has released as a solo artist.

FINAL GRADE: B

Brian Eno – Lux

The genius producer and musician returns with his latest solo record, a four song swelling, epic, lush record that clocks in over an hour and as usual, hears him pushing the boundaries of modern music.

FINAL GRADE: B

Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire

Enlisting a tribe of producers like Jamie xx, Babyface, Swizz Beatz, Jeff Bhasker, Kerry Brothers, Jr., Alicia Keys, Warren "Oak" Felder, Salaam Remi, The Smeezingtons, Pop Wansel, Alicia Keys returns triumphantly. Girl on Fire is Keys at her finest since her stellar debut, Songs in A Minor.

FINAL GRADE: B

Bad Brains – Into the Future

The 9^th album from the legendary Bad Brains hears them, like much of their recent years, combine dub, raggae, rock, and punk together. While Into the Future is not Bad Brains at their finest, it is a special album since it pays tribute to longtime friends and massive fan, the late Adam “MCA” Yauch of Beastie Boys.

FINAL GRADE: B-

…and You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead – Lost Songs

The eighth record from Texas’ indie titans was recorded in Hanover, Germany, and hears them dabbling into much more than aggressive rock or prog-rock but something much more for them. While Lost Songs is not as strong as last years Tao of Dead, it is something to admire.
FINAL GRADE: B-

Calvin Harris – 18 Months

The third album from Scottish superstar DJ, Calvin Harris, plays more like a compilation and a guest of whose who of stars. 18^th Months features Rihanna, Florence Welch, Dillon Francis, Dizze Rascal, Ellie Goulding and more for an EDM manifesto.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Guided By Voices – The Bears for Lunch

The third album of 2012 of the “Classic” GBV line-up hears a continuation of what they had done twice over the year already.

FINAL GRADE: C+

Shiny Toy Guns – III

The third record from L.A.’s glam rockers and first album of new material since 2008 hears the band doing more of the same and nothing else.

FINAL GRADE: C

Rihanna – Unapologetic

There is no denying Rihanna’s ability to deliver hit-after-hit and smash album after smash album, but as she and her team of writers and producers dive into a new record each year, but with such talent, it would be smart to slow down the machine and instead of cranking out quantity, they should look to deliver quality.

FINAL GRADE: C-

Aerosmith – Music From Another Dimension!

In their first album of new material in over a decade, America’s legendary rock and roll band disappoints. With a title called Music From Another Dimension, one would have high hopes that Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and co., would craft something original and different than what we have been accustomed to. However, they fail to do so and craft a generic, embarrassing, sorry excuse for a rock and roll record. American Idol seemed to do Tyler in, even dueting with Carrie Underwood on a track, but instead of making fans and lovers of the band proud, he and the Boston legends opted to go and make quick cash and put a smile on Simon Cowell’s botox face.

FINAL GRADE: F 

Quick News

Trent Reznor has confirmed during a Reddit Ask Me Anything Session that he is helping Josh Homme and Queens of the Stone Age out on their new album. This comes a week after Homme confirmed that Dave Grohl is back in the band on drums recording the new LP.

The good guys in Circa Survive have released a Hurricane Sandy benefit EP that they are selling for $4 and all proceeds will go to the victims effected by the devastating Hurricane. To purchase the EP, click HERE.

Prodigy of Mob Deep now has his own sneaker. The hip-hop legend has teamed up with Supra to develop a limited edition sneaker for the company.

The brilliant independent hip-hop label, Stones Throw, which was founded by Peanut Butter Wolf, have started a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for a documentary about the labels history called, Our Vinyl Weighs a Ton. The film, which is in production will discuss the origin of Wolf founding the label in 1996 and bringing on titans like J Dilla, DOOM, Aloe Blacc, Gaslamp Killer, Quakers and many more. The film will have a soundtrack provided by Madlib too. To see more and donate, click HERE.

Yo La Tengo Cover & Tracklisting

On January 15, Hoboken, New Jersey's, favorite indie band, Yo La Tengo will release their new album, Fade. Take a look at the cover above and the tracklisting below:

01 Ohm
02 Is That Enough
03 Well You Better
04 Paddle Forward
05 Stupid Things
06 I'll Be Around
07 Cornelia and Jane
08 Two Trains
09 The Point of It
10 Before We Run

Divine Fits Cover The Ramones!

Divine Fits surprised audiences in Atalanta a few weeks ago when Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox showed up to cover The Ramones classic, "53rd & 3rd." Take a look

Mumford & Sons on Letterman

 Watch Mumford & Sons perform "I Will Wait" on Letterman.

Great Soundtracks - There Will Be Blood

In 2007 one of the creepiest, strangest, powerful, and demonic sounds did not come from a Death Metal or Black Metal band, it came from Radiohead's Johnny Greenwood and an orchestra for his score to Paul Thomas Anderson's epic, There Will Be Blood. For Greenwood's first film score, he took the idea of someone chasing a destiny with a vengeance and transformed it into one of cinema's greatest film scores.

While the film centers around Daniel Day-Lewis' character, Daniel Plainview, and his quest for fortune through oil at the turn of the 20th century, it also centers around Plainviews obsession with power and undesirable thirst for more money and more influence. Greenwood took this and measured it in his own mind and was able to translate it to music with his violent and demanding music. While Anderson and Greenwood teamed up again for this years film, The Master, the soundtrack to that film is second fiddle to what they did together for There Will Be Blood.